The Telegraph reports Boyle wanted to cast Polish actor Tomasz Kot as the villain, with the film's script centering on political tensions with Russia. However, Kot was reportedly thought of as a "left-field" decision for a Bond villain.

Daniel Craig is also heavily involved in all casting decisions, which might have resulted in a disagreement between Craig and Boyle, according to The Telegraph.

Boyle and his Trainspotting screenwriting partner John Hodge were developing a script separate from the one Bond franchise regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade were writing. As previous reports point out, Boyle would have only moved forward with the project if his script was approved.

Production on Bond 25 was set to begin this December, with the film slated to hit theaters on November 8, 2019.